Building construction



Feb; 23I -1926. 1,574,586

J. F. LoucKs ET Al.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION med Jan. 1s, 1924 2 snee'ts-shqet 1 Feb. 23 1926.

J. F. LOUCKS ET AL BUILDING CONSTRUCTION 2. Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 16 1.924

W/W waff Patented Feb. 23, 1926.

.i UNITED STATES 1,574,586 PATENT CFFICE.

JAMES F. L'OUCKS, OF CLEVELAND, AND HARRY GrILLETT,y OF GATES MILLS, OHIO, ASSIGNORS TO HOLORIB, INCORPORATED, F CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION 0F OHIO.

BUILDING CONSTRUCTION.

Application filed January 1s, 1924. serial N. 686,493.

To au whom it may concern.' l

Be 1t known that we, (l) JAMES F.

LoUcns, (2) HARRY GiLnn'r'r, citizens of theUnited States, residing at (1) Cleveland,

5 (2) Gates Mills, in the county of Cuyahoga and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and usefulImprovement in Building Constructions, of which the following'is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings.

This' invention relates to building constructions and more particularly to constructions embodying sheet metal units, and

which units are adapted, when assembled to produce a light but strong metal foundation for walls, roofs, floors, ete.

It is thegeneral purpose and object of the.

invention to provide a construction unit,

of the character referredto, which will allow walls, roofs, floors, etc. embodying sheet-metal foundations to be produced at a relatively lowv cost; to provide a construction which wi-l'lenable the units to be assembled quickly ,and conveniently in almanner analogous to shingling, or weatherboarding, and with the preservation of leakproof joints; also to provide an extremely strong construction of the sheet-metal structure, as well as a structure so formed'as will enable-it to afford an eliicient support for sheets of insulating, cementitious or fibrous material.

A further-'object of our invention is to.

provide a building construction'which, when views, similar to Fig. 2, showing modifica-y tions of the inventionldisclosed in Fig.l 2'; Figs. 6 and 7 are Vdetails in perspective showing a manner in which the sheet metal units may be assembled in overlapped or shingled relation in the direction of the ribs; and

@is Sie View Similar to Fija- 7- ef e s19diemployed for the production of roofs, Awill p enable us toprovide roofs combining mini-- jects and other and more limited objectsconnected to such body theconvergent sides 2b the sides forming anl acuteV angle with each other-and preferably meeting at the closed seam 3. The metal sheet 1 may,

if desired, be given a coating -of lead or other material rendering 1t capable of resistmg acids and other corrosive agents. The

of a gauge capable of being shaped by means of rolls, it being noted that, because of the peculiarA shape and the number of the ribs, a flat continuous-'unit can be made from met-al as light as 26-gauge and yet be capableA of withstanding all of the Ordinar 1 in-` cidents of use in connection with flooring, roofing, etc., even where the material supported by such sheet has practically no in-A herent strength. A s actually constructed, the sheets 1 have been provided with ribs 2 of such depth, by the rolling operation, that the width of the sheet is reduced thereby from 26 inches to approximately 16 inches, with only five ribs to the sheet, the distance so.v

between the bases .of the ribs being much greater than the widths of such bases.

It will be noted that one edge of the sheet constituting the unit- 1 is providedwith a flange Ll'projecting at substantially right angles therefrom and at its opposite side with a short ange 5, adjacent to a rib 2 and shown as extending in substantiallythe plane Aof the sheet; also that the distance between the Harige 4 and the adjacent rib 2 is approximately the distance between the centers of two adjacent ribs. The purpose of this will be clear in connection with Fig.

2, wherein two unit sheets `1 are shown assembled 'side by side, the flange 4f ofvone unit bly spaced equidistantly, thedstance of thev aange e from the rib seams@ thereto beine;

70 metal employed for the sheet 1 is preferably preferably equal to the distance between the centers ot" adjacent ribs. This, with the arrangement of the rib at the opposite edge otl the sheet insures equidistant, or symmetrical, spacing of the ribs throughout an assembly of sheets or units.

In Fig. 2, our invention is shown combined with a sheet or layer ot insulating material in such manner as to be particularly useful for roofing ortlooring purposes. In this view, t3 denotes one of a number 'ot' suppotrts, extending transversely of the ribs 2, on which such ribs may rest. The supports 6 may be joists or roof purlins. In either event, the areay desired to be protected is covered by applying the sheets 1 to the members t3. convenient way ot so applying them is by nailing through the ribs 2 into the members 6 at suitable intervals, as indicated at 7, the heads of' the nails resting on top of the metal on each side of the seams 3. 'When a course has been completed by assembling side by side a suficient number of the sheets or units l, the next succeeding course of sheets or units may be assembled With the one just laid by overlapping the ends of the sheets of one course upon the ends of the corresponding sheets of the other course. For instance, inthe case of a root.. the bottom transverse course will be laid across the purlins, as indicated in Fig. 2. The upper ends of the ribs will be shaped in the manner shown in either Figs. 7 or 8. In Fig. 7, the seams 3 are opened up at what will be the upper end of the course, providing a slot, indicated at 3a. The lower end of each rib 2 ot` the next upper course may be narrowed,

as shown in Fig. G, namely, by bending the wall 2" toward the body of the sheet and by crimping the sides 2" toward each other. ln Fig. G, the wall 2b, as thus constricted in lwidth and folded upon itself, is indicatel slot 3b into which widened slots the ends of the ribs of the adjacent course may be inserted, without alteratlon t-hercot, merely by s rlnglng them into place.

A terthe desired area has been covered 'by the sheet metal units, we apply to the upper or exposed surface of the' sheets l afcoating 8, which may be of sheet cork or other insulating material, such as a more -or less heavy fiber sheet made from sugar cane and known to the trade as elotex. 'lhis sheet 8 of insulating material will be applied to the metal sheets or units l, as by means ot asphalt or other suitable adhesive agent, indicated at 9. vd'vhere the material 8 is apt to be atiected by weather conditions, a coating l() of any standard waterproofing material may be applied thereto.

In Fig.`3, there is shown a moditicatien of our invention vin which the sheets or units l are reversed; that is to say, the" ribs 2 are projected upwardly, and the spaces between such ribs are filled with any suitable material, such as fiber, the fiber coating being indicated at l1 and being united to the sheets l by adhesive 12. Above the coating ll is a layer of coating 15, which may be sheet cork, Celotex, or other suitable insulating material, while the Whole may be provided with a coating 14;-of water proof material. ln this ease, the sheet is shown as nailed directly to the supporting joists or purlins by means of the nails 7. lVhen desirable, a coating or layer 15 otl tireproof material, such as asbestos felt, 'Will be applied to the underside of the metal sheets or units 1, by means of a suitable adhesive 16.

in Fig.- 4 there is shown another form of our invention in which a. single thick layer l1 is applied to the metal sheets 1, extending above the ribs 2. Cement may be employed for this covering or layer, instead of cork or fibrous material, in which case no waterproofing will be necessary if the Aunit is not exposed to the weather'. YV here cement is used for the covering or coating, the shape .of the ribs 2 insures a most etticient bond' between the same and the sheet 1. lWhen this form of our invention is used for rooting or other exposed coverings, a coating 17 of waterproofing material will be applied thereto. l

In Fig. 5, there is shown substantially the same embodiment of our invention as is illustrated in Fig. 4, except that thesheets or units l are applied to the vertical struetural bea-ins 18 of a building, being shown as rivet-ed to the flanges of. such beams, by means of the rivets lt). 4

One of the great advantages of our invention is that 'the sheet metal unit is capable of being produced by the operation ot rolls; we have made such units from ten to twelve feet in length and approximately d llt) to 17 inches wide, the forming-ot the ribs i and the flanges 4 resulting in reducing the width of the sheetsfrom 2G inches to the width stated, the ribs being approximately three-fourths inch deep, such depth being greater than the width of the base oit each rib. By this rolling operation, we are eu.- abled .to handle sheets one-eighth inch thickfof a sufficient thiclzness to be-used for the floors o f railroad cars.

peculiar shape of the ribs, great strength is ,secured in the sheets or units, the 'ribs serving as non-collapsible load-sustainingbeams or trusses when resting on joists or purlins, as Shown in' Fig. 2; and this enables us to employ very light gauge metal for .the sheetsl or units, Without the necessity for relying other material applied thereto.

- A further advantage of sheets `or units roduced in accordance with our invention 'I lis that the saine' are provided each withia" This continuous,-

continuousflat surface. or substantially continuous, surface enables us to use a covering .of sheet-insulating mater.

vrial havin practically no inherent strength without anger of the same breaking through into the hollow. ribs, when subjected to'moving weights, as'is the case. with roofs and I'1oors,:and also provides, in a metal .sheet of given area,a maximum surface for the application of the .asphaltor other ladhesive material by which the insulating cov-4 ering is appliedand bonded :to such metal foundation sheet. .f By making the flange 5 -in .the lane of 'the sheet 1, the overlapping edge o the adjacent sheetwill 'be slightly elevated, as

i the first sheet'.

:The closing of the seams'3, as pointed ou hereinbefre, insuresa substantially contin# nous surface at one` side of each sheet for the a plication of any 'desired covering material thereto.' -Where a coating is aplied thereto in a liquid condition, theclosing of the seams prevents los'sof such coating through flowing into thel hollow ribs:

Having .thus describedv our' invention, what we claim-is:-

i foundation-for roofs and from the opposite surface, svad ribs each having'a de th in excess of the width ofthe 2. Asheetmetal foundation for -roofs and floors having a substantially continuous load-carrying surface .and `a plurality of.

hollow'trian ular ribs projecting 'from the opposite sur ace, the distance between `the longitudinal centers of adjacent' ribs being'A materially greater than thewidth'of' the baseof a ri'b.

3. A. sheet-inetall foundation for roofs and floors compri'singa metal sheethaving a substantial y continuous load-carrying surface, anda'plurality of spaced l'liollow tri By reason of thel pon the strength of the reproong .or

angular ribs projecting from the opposite surface, each rib having a' depth inexcess of the width of Athe base thereof and the distance between adjacent ribs being materially-'greaterthan the width of the base ofari. l.

4. The combination, with a sheet-metal .foundation for( roofs andl'loors having a substantially continuous surface and. spaced triangular ribs projecting from the opposite .surface and constituting beams for supporting the said foundation, of a sheet of insulating material for `the lfirst-mentioned surfaceY andl supported at substantially all points thereby, and adhesive material ap' plied to'fsuch surface and uniting such in'- 1 sulating material thereto.

5. A"bu ilding structure for"I roofs and 'l floors comprising the combination; 'with supporting beams, of a sheet-metal founda'- 'tion having a pluralityof spacedintegi-al angular ribs extending v'across said beams ai) supporting the foundation thereby, said ri s foun ationand being substantiallypclosed at their junction therewith, thel opposite side rojecting on one side only 0f the; i.

of the foundation presenting a' substantiallyl continuous loadsustaining surface.

6. `In a roof or floor structure, the combination, with supporting members, lof a series of sheet metal plates mounted thereon, each fplate lhavinginte al spaced angular ribs ormed on one si e only thereof, said ribs exte'ndin across the members and forming in e ect load-sustaining trusses between the same, the other side of such plate forming a substantially lcontinuous surface,

and a covering ofinsulating material ap- :plied Ato the last mentioned surface and supported at substantially all points thereby.

7. In a roof or floor structure, the com' hina-tion, with'.supporting members, 'of a sheet-metal foundation mounted thereon andv having integralspaced angular. ribs formed l on one side only thereof, saidxribs extendingacross the members and forming in .effectj,load-sustainingtrusses between the same, the other side of the foun ation formingv a substantially continuous surface, and a covering of insulating material adhesively secured to the ,last mentioned surface and' supported at Asubstantially all points thereby.

'8. A. floors comprising a .load-carrying "metal sheet having spaced' hollow triangular ribs formed therewith and projecting from one Q surface thereof, the side -Walls V^`of each ofsaid ribs substantially lmeeting at said sheet andfori'n'in an acute angle'with each other` whereby collapse of. the; ribs by' a lcovering* app1ied'to1the opposite surface ,of the sheet is prevented and suchc'o'vering is supported j building. structure 'fori roofs-.Hand

loqrs comprising'. alload-carrying metal sheet having-hollow triangular ribs formed `'therewith and projecting from 'one 'surface thereof," the sidewalls of each of said ribs 'substantiallymeeting 'at `said sheet' and forming anfaoute angle withl eaoh other -Whcreby collapse of the ribs by a covering applied to the opposite surface' of the 'sheet is prevented. and such vcovering is supported at vsubsta'nt'fally all'points by sneh surface;

-thedistance between adjacent-ribs being niaterially greaterl-than'the Width of the' base .of .a rib.

10.V 'AV Sheet metal foundation comprising arnotal sheet having spaced' triangular ribs formed therewith and'projeoting from one side thereof, the sidesof the ribs substantially lmeeting fat theI- sheet 'w-fhereby the said at' one end'for insertion finto-a rib of an adjacent sl1eet,'whereby said sheets may be assembled and overlapped in shingled condition.

In testimony whereof, 'We hereunto a'ix our signatures.

JAMES F'. LoUCKs, HARRY GILLETT.. 

